LAW1102

ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM

Assessment 2
Writing workshop
Dates

• Formative submission : 3rd February 2022 12

noon GMT
• Summative submission : 17th March 2022 12
noon GMT

Check the time zones and submit in good time.

The Question

Discuss the following statement:

“If … ‘bias’ and ‘partiality’ be defined to mean
the total absence of preconditions (in the mind
of the judge), then no-one has ever had a fair
trial and no-one ever will.”
Starting point

Understand the question :

The question is asking you to our Unit of Study on the

Judiciary ( Unit 4) and consider whether Judges can put
aside their bias to ensure individuals have a fair trial.
What rules/provisions are in place to help with this?
LAW
Do they work? ACADEMIC COMMENTARY
Examples ? CASES
RESEARCH

Gather information through research :

• Read the information in your Handbook ; check lecture slides

and UniHub
• Look at your core text book and other text books on the
English Legal System
• Source journal articles on the Judiciary and any commentary
• Look at the cases

YOUR HANDBOOK IS THE STARTING POINT FOR RESEARCH

Next steps…

Now you have any understanding of question

and you have completed your research…

You need to plan your essay : group content

together to help you structure your work.  

Stay focused on this question : DISCUSS

 DISCUSS

You need to critically evaluate to see whether you

agree with the statement:
DISCUSS:
Can the Judiciary, and do they put aside their own
biases to ensure an individual has a fair trial?
- Yes they can and do - with examples
- No they cannot – with examples
You need to consider BOTH SIDES to critically evaluate
Further research

Where do we find the information to

• Journal articles
• Academic commentary
• Text books

Concentrate on the question when conducting this research

Planning to write your essay

You will find lots of information.

• You need to be selective : which is the most

valuable?
• Can I group the information?
• Have I covered both aspects of the question?
• Have I used valuable sources?
Writing

• 1000 words ( No 10% rule)

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs (3 - 4)
• Conclusion
• OSCOLA
• Footnotes
• Separate bibliography
Introduction

• Role and function of a Judge

• Important characteristics to fulfil their role
• What will you be exploring in your essay to
answer the question?
• Summarise your conclusion ( thesis statement)
optional.
 Body paragraphs

• 3 or 4 paragraphs given the word count

• Each paragraph should deal with a particular issue

• Point, Evidence, Explain

• Mini conclusion at the end of each paragraph to link

back to the question
Conclusion

• Draw together your mini conclusions

• Link back and answer the question
• NO new information
• Do not re-tread all of your arguments just pull
them together in summary
• Be concise
• What is the outcome of your evaluation of the
Judges and potential bias?
Remember

• Answer the question

• Use reputable sources : text books, journal articles
NO low level internet sources
• OSCOLA : footnotes and separate bibliography
• Check the mark scheme in your Handbook
• Avoid long quotations : paraphrase and reference
ideas
Structure

• Introduction
• 3 to 4 body paragraphs
• Conclusion

You must write in paragraphs and in continuous text.

NO sub headings
NO bullet points
Language

• Third person
• Formal tone – no contractions or colloquial language
• Clear and concise – no unnecessary flowery language
• Only use terms you understand
• No long quotations
• No etc., i.e. : this is too informal
• Use full stops, semi colons and colons to avoid run
off sentences
• Arrange an appointment with CAS if necessary
OSCOLA

• Use it! Check the quick guide in your

Handbook and use the resources available on
UniHub
• All sources you use in text, and refer to, MUST
be cited in your footnotes and bibliography
• Any case you refer to MUST be cited in your
footnotes and then your bibliography
Sources

• Do not cite low level internet sources

• Cases should be looked at on legal databases
and cited properly
• You need to read text books and journal
articles
• Law teacher and other internet sources for
Law which you find on google are NOT
valuable
Academic practice

• You must reference when you have used the ideas of

others even if you have not quoted them directly.
• Do not copy and paste from internet sources ; this is
poor academic practice and can amount to
plagiarism.
• No working together and sharing essays; this is
collusion.
• Check the library guides if you need to refresh your
memory on academic honesty and practice.